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FINE GAEL TD Eoghan Murphy beguiled the audience at the MacGill Summer School in Donegal today with a short story about the life of a backbencher in Leinster House with an “awfully high opinion of himself”.
The story entitled ‘Confessions of a Button Pusher, Show up and Shut up, by a Government Backbencher’, tells the tale of the young TD – who is definitely not Murphy – and his struggle to settle into the daily goings on at the house.
In his basement office in Leinster House, the TD debates whether or not to use his position to put pressure on the council in his constituency to have a pothole filled in.
When called to a vote, the faithful backbencher heads for the chamber, unsure of what he’s voting on, and once he sees on the screen how his other colleagues voted, he presses the same button.
Back at his office later that night, after waiting hours to have his say in a debate, he speaks to a senior government colleague about adding an amendment to a bill. He has already put the suggestion to the Minister responsible and when he asks if he could push for it again at committee stage he’s told: “You can. On my a**e”.
‘Power is confined to far too few’
Once he finished telling his story – or rather the story of his ‘backbencher cousin’ – Murphy said he believed that the political system was at the core of what went wrong in Ireland over the last number of years.
The Fine Gael TD said that there needs to be a “loosening of the whip system and a more mature parliament”. “Power is being confined to far too few,” he said. “We need to have the maturity to say that it’s OK to think and to have opinions.”
The new people in politics will get frustrated and they will walk away and the ones who remain will eventually and unfortunately… be broken by the system and eventually forget why they got involved. Twenty or thirty years down the line we risk losing it all again.
He said that “this mentality of know your place lad and bide your time” should be done away with. “For those of us who were elected through the crisis – we don’t want to wait,” he added.
Murphy said there was a definite conflict between representing your government party and standing up for your constituency and a fundamental chance to the system is required. “The whip system as it’s imposed today can’t exercise the two responsibilities,” he concluded, receiving a rapturous applause from an audience clearly relieved at a break from some of the stuffy speeches of the last two days.
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‘Power is confined to far too few’…. add to that ‘with no consequences for their actions’ and you have the Irish political system encapsulated in a sentence. I’ve said it many times, the political system in this country is a busted flush and as these elite powerful few want to maintain their incidious grip on this country thus it will stay.
60% of those who vote keep voting the same powerful elite in , FF now wait in the long grass the same as FG waited for the previous 15 yrs knowing their day would come. This is what the majority of Irish voters , another powerful elite want , we live in a democracy , the Irish will never change !
Fair play Eoghan Murphy. I’m no FGer, but he seems like a decent guy that wants to make a change for good from the interactions I’ve had with him as a constituent.
From my experience of him canvasing at election time, he’s a complete arsehole. “Awfully high opinion of himself” is putting it mildly.
Whether he’s a decent guy or a complete arsehole, he’s bang on in this regard. And I say that as a died in the wool Fianna Fáiler.
Why doesn’t he just resign then? He’s voting on legislation that he doesn’t believe in so as to get the salary and perks that go with the job. Just another Irish TD with no morals or principles.
Laura the same has been said about Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern and the likes of Charlie Haughey by their constituents? It’s a load of bla, bla,bla and just because you have been sucked in, don’t expect others will follow as is your intent.
died in the wool Fianna Fáiler.
he didn’t finish the sentence: “Show up, Shut up, Get paid”
I wonder if half of these TDs are actually cut out for what they’ve signed up for. It seems they don’t have the personality or intellect to stand up to the big boys. We’re sorely lacking something in politics. Competence.
He would want to leave FG and stop pushing the button he is told to. Are we meant to feel sorry for him? Doors over there Murphy don’t let it hit your arse on your way out.
Exactly Kerry. It is sickening to watch. All that “down with this sort of thing” and no balls.
He’s speaking out against what most of us hate about the current system so surely he deserves some credit? We can’t simply attack EVERY statement from EVERY td. What’s that going to achieve? Someone has to represent us. If rather people like him than some of the dinosaurs in there!
Niall, for God’s sake – he’s a part of the problem!!!!!!
The whole point is that he stays within his party and put pressure on the whip system to reform that way. If he leaves, then he’s outside the political party and nothing will change. The Government’s majority is so big that losing a few TDs to them doesn’t matter.
@Enola. Your solution? Are you another supporter of this genius plan to “get rid of the lot of them”? And leave this so called God out of it please ;)
Part of the problem Niall. If it’s a problem fix it and that he is not doing. We might whine here but he is part of the problem and making no attempt to change it. A bluffer and nothing else.
Niall, leaving your childish comment about God to one side, these TDs are honour bound to resign.
They were elected on a platform of lies. If enough of them do it then this circus masquerading as a “Government” to one side will collapse.
They are the biggest con trick ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting – and trusting – public ever.
The number of TDs has to be reduced to around 50. Where I live (Waterford) could easily be represented by one TD.
A revolution has to take place. But a revolution in how we are represented – and the way in which we are represented. DDI is a great concept – but is in danger if being hijacked by groups like Shell to Sea.
Revolutions take place when the majority have had enough. This is obviously not the case in Ireland or it would be happening. Some people accept that there is a world wide recession, they borrowed too much in the “good times” and need to pay it back and that things could be a lot worse on our little island. Whether you agree or not that is what the majority think. I fully expect to receive numerous personal insults for these views, as that seems to be the norm on here. Im an optimist and i firmly believe that things will improve slowly and that our political system will be reformed (albeit slowly)
Niall, as one if the many who were prudent, not all of our ills can be laid at the door of those who borrowed.
Reckless lending enabled them to do so. World recession? Again another myth.
What has us where we are is the fact that we bailed out bankrupt, failed businesses (banks) against all the fundamentals of capitalism.
And they continue trading under the same old rules (repossessions etc). While people go hungry. And cannot afford healthcare.
All while the pigs at the Leinster House trough stuff themselves. It is an absolute and utter scandal.
Revolutions generally take place when there is a strong leadership in place and is not a matter of numbers.
Kerry a strong leader who can “revolt” at a political level is the answer and not a disorganised aggressive mob dictating their minority views on the rest of us. Just my opinion
Enola I actually agree with some of that. As for the pigs in Leinster House. Are you saying all 166 of them are pigs? I would strongly disagree with that statement? If that were the case I would certainly be part of the “revolution”.
If we are afraid of governing ourselves we deserve everything we get. Throw out this worse than useless layer of “top” civil servants and throw out the government. Elect independent TDs.
Leinster house is an economic cesspit Niall. Unvouched expenses say it all really.
Just goes to show how broken the system is. This country could of been a success story in Europe but we put people in power that should have never been there
I went onto the website of the McGill Summer School and flipped through the first three pages of listed speakers.
Its quite disappointing the narrow range of speakers invited. TD after TD seem to be the main contributors. In order to have a true exchange of ideas you really need more people who cross-pollinate either politics, law or academia.
Perhaps a representative of the Traveling community?. Perhaps of the disabled?. There are a lot of Doctors listed as speakers on the website. How about an actual M.D discussing the health service.
Oh wait, that was supposed to be the Seanad wasn’t it……..
That should read “more people other than those that cross-pollinate either politics, law or academia”.
Oh, the travelling community. Yeah? They should be top of the list……………..
Look up Emily O’Reilly’s speech from yesterday. She’s a legend.
Not sure what you’re talking about a lot of non-politiicans. The politicians have to be there though, that’s the point.
http://www.macgillsummerschool.com/category/speakers/page/2/
I looked it up. Calling her fellow countrymen and women lazy. What a neck.
There must definitely be an election soon, if we are hearing from these low lifes
Confessions of a Journalist would be better but a little short on content, Just spin the party propaganda until you land that press secretary job.
Hedley. I and many more want to read these reports.
And then what,Ponder a concise response.
Confessions of a Business Owning Tax Payer
Crippled by increasing taxation
Lack of liquidity from the banks
Lack of public spending due to austerity
No big pension to fall back on etc etc etc
I feel sorry for this TD’s cotton socks
I know the button to push – eject eject eject from this crocked little place
“Show up and Shut up” – just the leadership we need my a**e
Ollie. Why don’t you put your name forward for this easy life next time round?
After you Niall – what party do you recommend?
Niall – what party are you a member of? Don’t be shy now!
truthfully I am not a member of any party – truthfully. I have voted in the past – but no particular party. So I am open to suggestion…. What about u
I’m exactly the same. No party affiliation whatsoever. As for running, no thanks! I like my job and have no desire to put myself forward to be abused by the country. Unfortunately I fear this will be the reason that many will chose not to run.
@Enoka that’s the reply I expected from you though. It’s the usual reaction from so many on here when people make an alternative argument to the popular opinion. It’s simply a lazy reply. Please try harder
Niall H, It’s not that easy, just putting your name forward doesn’t do the trick. Maybe Ollie just wants to carry on in his business as he has always done taking nothing from no one.
To you Ollie as a small business person I also despair. I’m so tired fighting everyone . DCC, Revenue,
Health and Safety, EU this that and the other, but if I give up we go hungry. Is there a patron st for small business people?
Theresa – I hear you. I try not to be negative however I think self pitying / self serving politicians (like this one and the other clown during the week who made up a story about being offered a free holiday to miss a vote) should be put back in their box as often as possible. If this guy had any balls he would do what he believes in – not what he is told. I once had one of these sheep tell me they (his party) would get us out of this mess. He was pretty upset when I told him there was a better chance of us getting out of the mess if his party could get out of the way long enough to let small business owners fix things. He was talking some crap about “Government job creation” when I snapped lol Chin up :)
Niall – I must have touched a widdle nerve there…………
Maybe the next time this fellow will vote as his conscience dictates. Somehow I doubt it.
Has it occurred to you that voting as one’s conscience dictates can cut both ways?
Voting with one’s conscience means that one does what for you is right, not what might save your skin.
The whip system is a complete failure. Turns a few into power hungry nut jobs .
Aren’t showing up and shutting up two of the last things we associate with TDs?
60% of Irish Voters were too lazy to vote in the last election in Meath East.
Gave the winners a walkover and the ‘power’ to pass draconian laws to tax Family Homes.
TDs under the whip system voted against the interests of their constituents and in favour of the interest of ‘others’.
The Irish political system is badly broken.
Need for some adults to step forward.
Same old whine! If he feels that passionate about the political system, why does he still fall in behind the system!
Same as the over paid Ombudsman woman O’Reily! As she leaves the post, has and auld dig in the summer skool!
In fact all of the criticism is played out safely in Summer Skools! They need to set out an agenda of change and be radical and act out their words in actions!
But they won’t try and look at change because most haven’t the will or IQ to be legislators/Parliamentarians, instead rowing in behind the Party Patriarchs’
have your say